Track oiler



M86526; 9- E. R. AGNER TRACK QILER Filed Dec. 20. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 E n'lzyngr arranged to discharge upon a sideface of the Patented Mar. 26, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Enron n henna, or VINTON, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR or own-1mm T0 a. EMMETT GISH, ornonnoxn, VIRGINIA.

TRACK OILER.

Application filed December 20, 1927 Serial No. 241,375.

This invention relates to track oilers and more particularly to a device of this hind operating to lubricate a rail comprised in a curved portion of a trackway.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a deviceof this kind comprising a wheel adapted to travel along the rail to be lubricated, said wheel constituting a container for the desired lubricant together with normally closed ports through which the lubricant adapted to be discharged upon the rail. I

The invention also has for an object to provide a device of this kind comprisinga reservoir or supply member in the form of a wheel adapted to travel along the rail to be lubricated and which is provided in a wall with a plurality of ports, said ports being ball or head of the rail together with valve members normally closing said ports but being moved into open. position by contact with the rail. y I I Anadditional objectof the inventionis to provide an applicating member adapted to travel on the rail to be lubricated together with means operable at will for heating said applicating member. y I

Another object of the invention 18 to provide a device of this kind comprising an ap plicating member adapted to travel along a rail and to lubricateonly the inside face of the ball or head of suchrail, said apphcatmg I member being normally out of contact with the rail together with means operable at will for Imoving said applicating member intodesired engagement with the rail.

The invention consists in the-details of construction andin the combination and arrangement of the several parts my improved track oiler whereby certaln important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and. otherwise more convenient and advantageous for grammatic character illustrating a rail oiler constructed in accordance with anembodiment of my invention; a I

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view in top plan illustrating an applicating member and the parts directly associated therewith;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view partly in section and partly in elevation of the applicating member and its associated parts asherein disclosed and in working engagementwith the rail of a trackway;

Figure 4c is an elevational view of the means herein employed for maintaii'iing normally closed the valves for the discharge ports of the applicating member;

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, 1 denotes an axle comprised in a pony truck or kindred structure of a locomotive andnvith which is engaged for swinging movement in a vertical direction the forwardly directed parallel arms lhe;-.;e arms 2 at their outer end portimis are tied or connected by an upstanding yoke member or bailj 8. The central portion of the yoke member or bail 3 has operatively engaged therewith an upstanding stem 4 which is operatively connected, as at 5, with the extended portion of the rod 6 of a piston 7.

The piston 7 is arranged for reciprocation within a cylinder 8 suitably supported by the body of the locomotive L or kindred rolling stock and the cylinder 8 has in communicza tion therewith inwardly ofthe piston 7 the pipe line 9 leading from a source of fluid under pressure. Altl'rough not shown this line 9 at a point within ready access of an engineman. is adapted to have interposed therein a controlling valve so that when de sired fluid pressure may be admitted within the cylinder 8 to force the piston dowm wardly for a purpose to be hereinafter more particularly referred to. The piston 7 is normally urged upwardly by an expansible member 10 of requisite tension and herein disclosed as a coil spring arranged within the cylinder 8 and interposed between the piston 7 and the lower or bottom head of the cylinder 8.

The applicating member M comprises two sections 11 and 12 arrimgedside by side and which intheir assembly constitute a hollow with a tread 14 adapted to have conventional rolling contact upon the rail R to be lubricated and also includes the inner flange 15 adapted to lap the inner side face or wall of the head or ball of the rail vR when the section 11 is in rolling contact with the rail. The section 12, as herein disclosed, is

11 and 12 are assembled, have close contact one with the other. The hub sections 16 extendupwardly'of the sections 11 and '12 and are rotatably engaged with the extremities of the yoke member or bail 3. Disposed through the aligned hub sleeves 16 1s a holding bolt 17 having engaged with an end portion thereof a conventional nut 18 whereby the sections 11 and 12 are effectively 'maintained in desired relative assembly.

The inclined peripheral wall of the section 12 at a-desired point" thereon is provided with a filling opening 19 normally closed by a plug 20.

The flange of the section 12 at points equi-distantly spaced in adirection circumierentially of the section is provided with the discharge ports 21 which are normally closed bythe ball valves 22, Each of the )valves 22 in its normally closed position extends aslight distance outwardly beyond the outer face of the flange 15.

v The ball valves 22 are maintained in their normally closed positions by a retaining l' member A comprising the central disc or plate 23 mounted upon the inner end portion of the hub sleeve 16of the section 11 I and hereindisclosed'as held thereon through the instrunientality of the holding nut 24.

" Radiating froin'the plate 23 are the spring arms 25 each of which having its outer "extremity contacting wit-h a ball valve 22 under sufficient tension tomaintain said ball valvez'normally closed but permitting said ball valve to readily move inwardly toopen position V With the applicating member M in its normal or raised position the flange 15 thereof isposit-ioned' slightly inward of the inner side face or wall of the rail R or slightly offset outwardly with respect to the ,jfiange. 26 0f the pony truck wheel 27 or the like immediately to the rear thereof. \Vhen fit isdesired to oil or lubricate arail, fluid ber-Mitohave requisite-rollingcontact with 'therail R.- As the flange 15 laps the inner" under pressure is admitted within the cylinder 8. resulting in downward movement of the piston '7 which operates to swing the yoke member or bail- 3 downwardly, thus causing thetread 14 0f the applicating memsideface of therail R and as the member M rotates, the iballrvalves 22 as they come into contact with said inner face or wall of the rail will be moved inwardly into open position and at the same time caused to rotate while in contact with such face or wall. This results in requisite application of the lubricant to the inner side face or wall of the rail only and at points spaced along such wall or face in accordance with the spacing of the ports 21. The rolling action of the valves 22 facilitates the desired delivery of the lubricant.

In order to assure the proper engagement of the applicating member M with the rail Kit is necessary that the member be capable of axial movement and for which reason the outer or extended portions of the hub sleeves 16 are freely disposed through the end portions of the yoke member or bail 3. The member M is normally urged in an outward direction by an expansible member 28 of requisite tension and herein disclosed as a coil spring encircling the extended portion of the hub sleeve 16 of the section 12 of the member M and interposed between the adjacent end of the section 12 and an end portion of the yoke member or bail 3. This expansible member or spring 28 serves to maintain the member M, when raised or inoperative, in the position with respect to the wheel 26 as particularly illustrated in Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings and which has hereinbefore been referred to.

'The lubricant employed may be as desired, preferably of an oil of desired consistency. Under certain conditions this oil or lubricant may not flow or be delivered by the valve members 22 as freely as desired.

For this reason there is disposed over the upper portion of the applicating member M a hood or casing 29 held in desired position by the yoke member or bail 3. This hood or casing 29 while positioned in close proximity tothe member M and closely conforming to its peripheral configuration is spaced therefrom sufliciently to offer no hindrance or obstruct-ion to the desired rotation of the HIGIIIbO/Y'M. A steam line 30 leading from a suitable source of supply, such as an ongine boiler, discharges within the space between the hood or casing 29 and the member M resulting in suflicicnt heating of the member M to assure the oil maintaining a requisite flowing condition. This line 30 is adapted to have interposed therein a suitable controlling valve (not shown) easily accessible by an engineman.

It is believed to be evident that a track oil'er as hereinbctore set forth is of especial advantage in lubricating a rail particularly ata curve in the trackway and that such lubrication serves to increase the life of the rail together with the life of the wheel flange. Furthermore, efiicient lubrication of the rail serves to decrease strains on the locomotive or kindred rolling stock due to friction and lessens the liability of breakage of draw heads, and at the same time facilitates easy starting of trains and as sures unlimited saving in time, fuel and repairs.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a track oiler constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not Wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

1. A rail oiler comprising a hollow applicating member adapted to contain a supply of lubricant, means for supporting said applicating member for movement toward or from the rail, said member when in contact with the rail having rotation, said applicating member having a flange lapping a sideface of the rail when the member is in rolling contact therewith, said flange being provided with a series of ports spaced circumferentially of the member, ball valves normally closing said ports and projecting outwardly beyond said flange when in their normally closed position, and yielding means for maintaining the valves in their normal position.

2. A rail oiler comprising a hollow applieating member adapted to contain a supply of lubricant, means for supporting said applicating member for movement toward or from the rail, said member when in contact with the rail having rotation, said applicating member having a flange lapping a side face of the rail when the member is in rolling contact therewith, said fiangebeing provided with a series of ports spaced circumterentially of the member, ball valves normally closing said ports and projecting outwardly beyond said flange when in their normally closed position, and a plate mounted within the applicating member and provided with spring arms contacting with the ball valves for maintaining said valves in their normal positions.

3. A rail oiler comprising a hollow applicating member adapted to contain a supply of lubricant, means for supporting said applicating member for movement toward or from the rail, said member when in contact with the rail having rotation, said applicating member having a flange lapping a side faceo'l the rail when the member is in rolling contact therewith, said flange being provided with a series of ports spaced circumferentially of the member, ball valves normally closing said ports and projecting outwardly beyond said flange when in their normally closed position, and means for urging the applicating member in the direction of its axis toward the rail when said applicating member is in rolling contact with the rail.

4. A rail oiler comprising a hollow applicating member adapted to contain a sup ply of lubricant, means for supporting said applicating member for movement toward tact with the rail having rotation, said applicating member having a flange lapping a side face of the rail when the member is in rolling contact therewith, said flange bcing provided with a series of: ports spaced circumferentially of the member, and ball valves normallyclosing said ports and projecting outwardly beyond said flange when in their normally closed position. 5. A rail oiler comprising a hollow applicatingmember adapted to contain a supply of lubricant, means for supporting said applicating member for movement toward or from the rail, said member when in contact with therail having rotation, said applicating member having a flange lapping a side face of the rail when the member is in rolling contact therewith, said flange being provided with a series of ports spaced circumferentially of the member, ball valves normally closing said ports and projecting outwardly beyond said flange when in their normally closed position, and means for heating the applicating member.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aifix my signature.

ELTON R. AGNER.

or from the rail, said member when in corn 

